Two weeks ago was my (repeatedly rescheduled due to snow) 26wk midwife appointment.
I am spoilt with the care I receive from my midwife team. They’re based in a midwife led unit in a town all of 5miles from my home and before diagnosis, I was actually looking forward to giving birth there and with that team.
I get to see the same midwife at all my appointments but if she’s not there, I’ve met a few of the others who are equally lovely. I know that the appointments can be a bit boring, or feel a little pointless unless you have burning questions or needs but I have come to really appreciate the normalcy of them.
Having someone who is talking about all the usual pregnancy and baby things makes me feel more like any other expectant mum and that is priceless. She asks about me and my health, physical and mental. We chat about labour, breastfeeding (something I hadn’t wanted to do until now) and best of all, I get to listen to the little man’s heartbeat. It’s super strong (or maby they all just say that to try and comfort us? I don’t mind, I like to hear it) and she told me it sounds like every other heartbeat. I’ve never been happier to be told something is perfectly average.
Of course at our specialist scans we hear the heart, they have the ability to listen to specific sections or areas using the ultrasound. That’s pretty cool. I’ll admit I have found myself setting aside the knowledge that it’s my little boy and focusing on the science and the technical information at these appointments. I find it all fascinating. Perhaps detaching is my way of coping? A therapist would probably tell me it’s unhealthy.
Since that day we have been back to Birmingham for our next (& final!) ultrasound with the fetal medicine team. The scan itself was painful. I’m pretty sure what they’re trying to do it touch my spine with their fist. No wonder little man kicks and moves so much. As they get bigger in the womb it becomes harder to see the heart, he’s more scrunched up. The cardiologist decided we don’t need to see them again until the birth so it’s just growth scans for the last few weeks. It’s a weird mix of relief (both because travelling for 3hrs to the hospital is a pain but also because it’s sort of reassuring to know they don’t expect more changes) and worry (what if they’ve missed something and it does change?!)
Thankfully our growth scans are also with a consultant so he will be looking after us on that front too. Little dude is growing well, so far. He’s not got long legs but nor have I, as the consultant cheerfully pointed out. He is getting to be a little chunk and we’re hoping he carries on growing well. Heart babies can be small and have slowed growth so we’re cautiously optimistic.
I’ll admit Im not thrilled at the prospect of pushing out a huge baby but the bigger he is, the better his chances in surgery. I’ll take walking like John Wayne to give him that shot.
Oh and we had the bonus of some 4d images of him from Birmingham so here is our little man at 27+5 ♥️
Our HRHS Journey 